8 skiers dead after avalanche near California’s Lake Tahoe; 9th still missing
Authorities said eight of nine skiers missing after an avalanche near California’s Lake Tahoe have been found dead, with the ninth skier still missing but also presumed deceased.
The avalanche was reported near Castle Peak in Nevada County, north of Boreal Mountain Ski Resort, around 11:30 a.m. Tuesday as a heavy snowstorm moved through Northern California, bringing blizzard conditions to higher elevations.
A total of 15 backcountry skiers were involved in the avalanche, the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office reported, and six of them survived and were rescued from the site.
Nine people were still missing as of Wednesday morning, officials said. Search efforts intensified Wednesday as crews sought to take advantage of a break in the weather.
The Nevada County Sheriff’s Office announced during a news conference Wednesday morning that eight of the nine missing skiers had been found dead. The search continues for the last missing skier, but sheriff’s officials said they presume the missing person is also deceased due to the condition of the scene.
Blackbird Mountain Guides said the group was returning from a three-day trip to Frog Lake. The group included four ski guides and 11 clients, the company said.
Of the six people rescued, the sheriff’s office said two were hospitalized for treatment. The sheriff’s office said the survivors were a man and five women, ranging in age from 30 to 55, with one of the six people being a Blackbird mountain guide. One of the injured survivors was stabilized, authorities said, while the other was still being treated.
Sheriff’s officials noted that none of the bodies of the eight people found dead have been removed at this time. Search teams have placed avalanche poles so the bodies can be found when conditions permit, officials said.
An avalanche warning, with danger rated “high,” was in effect at the time of Tuesday’s incident, according to the Sierra Avalanche Center. Even on Wednesday, search teams faced high avalanche risks and dangerous conditions.
Authorities stressed the danger of the backcountry where Tuesday’s avalanche occurred, referencing the January avalanche that also killed a snowmobiler near Castle Peak.
